Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which of the following is an example of a repressible operon in organic chemistry?
A
Lac operon
B
Gal operon
C
Ara operon
D
Trp operon
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of an operon: An operon is a cluster of genes under the control of a single promoter and is transcribed into a single mRNA strand. It is a key concept in gene regulation in prokaryotes.
Differentiate between inducible and repressible operons: Inducible operons are usually off and can be turned on by an inducer, while repressible operons are usually on and can be turned off by a repressor.
Identify the function of the Trp operon: The Trp operon is a classic example of a repressible operon. It is involved in the synthesis of tryptophan, an amino acid. When tryptophan levels are high, it acts as a corepressor and binds to the repressor protein, which then binds to the operator to inhibit transcription.
Compare with other operons: The Lac operon is an example of an inducible operon, which is activated in the presence of lactose. The Gal and Ara operons are also inducible, involved in the metabolism of galactose and arabinose, respectively.
Conclude that the Trp operon is the correct example of a repressible operon, as it is regulated by the presence of its end product, tryptophan, which represses its own synthesis when in abundance.